Welcome to Dirtbags Baseball Blog! The blog is interactive. At the end of each article is a link that says "Click here to read comments posted by others or to post your comments." Please feel free to click this link and add your own comments. This link also takes you to comments that have been left by others. You need to register with Blogger to leave comments, which is free (there is a link on the comments page to do this).
RSS Feed

Web dirtbagsbaseball.blogspot.com

It's early. As this is written, classes are just beginning for the Fall 2005 semester at Long Beach State. The 2006 Dirtbags roster is far from set. But one thing is certain. There will be a lot of new faces on that roster, as 8 of 9 Dirtbags selected in the 2005 MLB draft are now in professional baseball, 4 non-drafted seniors are no longer eligible, and at least (4) 6 others on the 2005 roster are transferring to other schools (or quiting baseball). Here's the players who won't be back for 2006, the new players, and those returning for 2005-2006 academic year:

Outgoing Players

Drafted and in professional baseball:

Position Players:

Chris Jones, catcher.
Troy Tulowitzki, shortstop.

Pitchers:

Brian Anderson, RH reliever.
Marco Estrada, starting RHP.
Cody Evans, RHP, started and relieved.
Steve Hammond, LH reliever.
Neil Jamison, RH reliever.
Cesar Ramos, starting LHP.

Non-drafted seniors:

Position Players:

Kyle Bradburry, infielder.
Cole Jacobsen, infielder.
Danny Mocny, 3rd base/outfielder.
Steve Velazco, outfielder.

Pitchers:

None.

Players transferring out:

Position Players:

Zach Barger, outfielder.
Donnie Ecker, shortstop/infielder, (transferring to Santa Clara Univ.)

Pitchers:

Romeo Newman, RH reliever.
Scott Juneau, RH reliever.
Ryan Shopshire, RHP.
Brandon Villalobos, LHP, started and relieved.

New Incoming Players

Freshmen:

Position Players:

Danny Espinosa, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana), 6'0", 185, shortstop. 2005 stats: .288, 20 RBI, 18 stolen bases. Good glove.

Kip Masuda, Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu, Hawaii), 5'10", 185, catcher/1st base. 2005 stats: .389, 5 HR, 38 RBI, threw out 17 of 20 attempting stolen base. MLB: Drafted in the 47th round (1,394th overall). Masuda was Hawaii's position player of the year, as selected by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, which had this:

Masuda was among several players nominated for top position player honors. He got the nod over a posse that included Moanalua's Andrew Blomberg and Saint Louis' Chester Wilson.

The 5-10 1/2, 185-pound senior impressed at the plate, hitting a league-high five home runs. He also had 14 doubles and 38 RBIs while hitting .389.

It was defense, however, that separated Masuda from the pack. The Owl threw out 17 of 20 baserunners. Much of the time, opposing coaches refused to run on Masuda.

"Hands down, he's the best catcher in the state," Saint Louis coach Scot Paiva said. "Automatically, you don't want to run on him."

Masuda credited his coaches with fine-tuning his accuracy behind the plate.

"It's just repetition in practice. Our coaches emphasized the release point, being compact and throwing to the same spot every time," he said. "That made a lot of difference."

Getting serious about conditioning also was a plus.

"The honor is kinda important to me because all the offseason workouts by myself, going to the weight room extra paid off," Masuda said. He reps in the bench press anywhere from five to 10 times at 225 pounds. On the squat, he does five to 10 reps at 315.

"When you're stronger, to me, it's a boost to everything, a lot easier to compete. You can swing the bat a little faster, come around on the inside pitch a little more," said Masuda, who accepted an early offer from Long Beach State.

Brandon Decker, Granite Hills High School (El Cajon), 5'9", 140, infielder. 2005 stats: .360, 14 stolen bases (5th in east San Diego County). 2004 stats: .430 (49 hits, 114 AB), .649 slugging percentage (9 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR), 41 runs scored, 16 stolen bases. Played shortstop senior year, and 2nd base junior year.

Pitchers:

Kyle Bredenkamp, Millikan High School (Long Beach), 6'5", 225, RHP. 2005 stats: 4-4, 1.23 ERA, 57 IP, 59 strikeouts, 18 BB. MLB: Drafted in the 37th round (1,117th overall). MaxPreps stats here.

Hunter Hewitt, Trinity High School (Louisville, Kentucky), 6'0", 187, LHP. 2005 stats: 7-0, 1.01 ERA.

Andre Lamontagne, Righetti High School (Santa Maria), 6'4", 180, RHP. 2005 stats: 9-0, 1.56 ERA, 81 IP, 81 strikeouts, 39 BB. 2005 hitting stats: .367 (11 for 30). MLB: Drafted in the 45th round (1,346th overall). MaxPreps stats here. He was the only high school player on the 2005 summer league Santa Maria Indians, and was one of 3 starting pitchers to anchor the rotation.

Russ Lowell, La Costa Canyon High School (Encincitas), 6'0", 155, LHP. 2004 stats: 6-0, 1.66 ERA. 2005 stats: 4-6, 3.85 ERA, 60 IP, 78 strikeouts, 44 walks. The La Costa Canyon High School baseball page has this:

If you asked CIF Champion Rancho Bernardo who the toughest pitcher they faced this year they might say it was the Mavericks' Russell Lowell. On April 21st Russ pitched a complete game, 7 inning shut out win over the Broncos, 1-0. On May 5th Russ limited the Broncos to only one run through 8 innings before loosing 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning. On April 8th Russ held Fallbrook to only 3 runs in an 8-3 win for the Mavericks over the Avocado League Champs. In 2005 Russ pitched 60 innings, allowing 46 hits and striking out 78, while posting a tough luck record of only 4-6.

Shane Peterson, Chaparral High School (Temecula), 6'1", 195, LHP. 2005 pitching stats: 5-4, 2.287 ERA, 67.1 IP, 90 strikeouts, 31 BB. 4 complete games. 2nd Team All-CIF. Batting stats: .414, 7 HR, .814 slugging percentage. 10 strikeouts and 21 walks in 70 AB. Can play 1st base. MaxPreps stats here. Pitched a no hitter in 2002.

Bryan Shaw, Livermore High School, 6'0", 190, RHP. 2005 stats: 5-0, 0.25 ERA over 28 IP, 14 hits allowed, 29 strikeouts, 9 BB (season shortened by injury). MaxPreps stats here. He also played wide receiver for Livermore.

Scott Turmail, Hazelwood Central High School (Florissant, Missouri), 6'4", 190, RHP. 2004 stats: 8-1, 1.41 ERA. 2005 stats: 7-1, 1.63 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2005 1st Team All-State (Missouri) pitcher.

Vance Worley, McClatchy High School (Sacramento), 6'3", 210, RHP. 2004 stats: 6-1, 1.71 ERA. 2005 stats: 4-3, 1.79 ERA, 51.1 IP, 102 strikeouts. MLB: Drafted in the 20th round, (607th overall). Baseball America had this pre-draft scouting report:

Worley hails from the same Sacramento high school that produced big leaguers Larry Bowa, Dion James and Nick Johnson. The premier pitching prospect in northern California, he was a third- to fifth-round projection at the start of the year, but his stock has been on the rise this spring. He had one string of 23 straight scoreless innings. Worley has the potential for four legitimate pitches and works with an easy, efficient and fluid delivery. He rates a slight edge over Monte Vista High righthander Jeff Lyman, the No. 2 arm in the area, because his delivery is a little cleaner. Worley's fastball was 87-88 mph in 2004 but has been consistently 91-93 mph this spring, while touching 95. The ball explodes out of his hand and has good riding action, and he works the pitch to both sides of the plate. He also has good command of a slider, which ranges from 77-81 mph. His team's shortstop when he doesn't pitch, Worley is more athletic and displays better baseball actions than most pitchers when he takes the mound. He is considered more signable than most of the elite high school prospects in northern California, but scouts are split on his worth, ranging from a sandwich pick to the third or fourth rounds.

Transfers:

Position Players:

Bobby McMurray, junior, transferring from Mesa City College (Mesa, Arizona), 6'0", 195, outfielder/3rd base. 2004 stats: .354, 62 RBI. 2005: suffered rotator cuff injury in the middle of the season. He was selected to the 2004 NJCAA 1st Team Division II All Regional for Region 1.

Ted Pattock, sophomore, transferring from Chandler-Gilbert City College (Chandler, Arizona), 6'0", 180, outfielder. .319, .418 OB%, 21 stolen bases. 2nd Team All-Conference. Perfect Game had this scouting report from the summer of 2002 on Pattock from a showcase during his days at Seton Catholic High School in Tempe, Arizona:

Showed a good hitting approach with quiet hands and good hitting ability. Runs well and showed a quick first step out of the box. His left-handed bat and athleticism give him a bright future at the next level.

Robert Perry, junior, transferring from Santa Clara University, 5'9", 175, outfielder. 2004 stats: .305, 8 HR. 2005 stats: .324, 4 HR, season shortened by finger injury. The Los Gatos Weekly Times had this on Perry in December, 2004:

Sophomore Robert Perry (Mitty), a teammate of [Troy] Tulowitzki over the years on several successful Sunnyvale National Little League all-star teams, will be the starting centerfielder for Santa Clara University. Perry, who last year was the first freshman in 22 years to start for the Broncos, earned second-team All-West Coast Conference honors last spring. He played in all but one of SCU's 56 games, batting .300 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

Edgar Sedano, transferring from East L.A. College, junior, 5'11", 175, infielder. 2005 stats: .405, 40 runs scored, 6 HR, 19 RBI. All-Southern California.

Allen Wood, transferring from Golden West College (Huntington Beach), junior, outfielder. 2004 stats: .366. 2005 stats: .326, 28 RBI, 2nd Team All-League.

Pitchers:

Andrew Carpenter, junior, transferring from Sacramento City College (played freshman year at Chico State University), RHP. I had this on Andrew:

Andrew, a right handed pitcher, played his freshman year at Chico State University, and last season at Sac City. The 6'3", 220#, righthander is from Vacaville, CA. In 2004 at Chico State, he pitched 74.1 innings in 17 games (11 starts, 4 complete games), posting a 4.12 ERA and 7-2 W-L record. Last season at Sac City, he led the team with an 8-2 record, posting a 3.15 ERA. He also led the team in innings pitched at 85.2, starting 12 of the 15 games he appeared in, and striking out 84 while walking just 20.

Andrew originally signed to play on scholarship at Oklahoma before the turmoil at OU over the resignation of head coach Larry Cochell forced by racially insentitive remarks, the hiring of Wichita State's long time head coach Gene Stephenson, and Stephenson's subsequent resignation a few hours later because of ""unresolvable scholarship issues" at Oklahoma." Andrew asked for, and was granted, a release from his committment to OU.

Returning Players

Position Players:

Sean Boatright, senior, outfielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2003 .259 19-16  58 12 15  4  0  3   9 .483  7 12 .353    1-1  0 1.000
2004 .330 30-23 100 10 33  5  0  3  23 .470  4 18 .352    0-1  0 1.000
2005 .299 49-48 197 26 59 17  0  3  30 .431 14  1 .347    5-8  1  .990

Scott Bradley, senior, utility. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2004 .308 10-3   13  1  4  1  0  0   2 .385  2  1 .400    1-1  0 1.000
2005 .282 28-19  71 14 20  2  0  0   6 .310  8 18 .386    4-4  2  .976

Tito Cruz, senior, catcher/3rd base. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2003 .217 11-5   23  3  5  0  0  0   1 .217  2  8 .280    0-0  1  .889
2004 .271 22-12  48  6 13  3  0  0   2 .333  1 10 .327    0-0  5  .872
2005 .231 33-26 108  8 25  5  0  0   8 .278  5 23 .278    3-4  5  .972

Donnie Ecker, sophomore, infielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 ........No plate appearances......

Brandon Godfrey, sophomore, 1st base/utility. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 .305 47-46 177 19 54  9  2  1  24 .395  9 27 .349    2-4  3  .993

Jose Hernandez, sophomore, outfielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 .224 31-18  67  9 15  4  0  1   7 .328  1 17 .2573   3-4  2  .955

Evan Longoria, junior, infielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 .320 58-56 228 34 73  8  0  5  30 .421 14 41 .368  10-11  8  .952

Tom Sarti, senior, catcher/outfielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 .139  17-9  36  6  5  0  0  1   5 .222  2  9 .220    1-1  0 1.000

Chuck Sindlinger, senior, 2nd base. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2003 .288 41-38 125 13 36  7  2  0  21 .376  9 27 .350   8-10  4  .976
2004 .257 38-36 113 12 29  2  2  1   7 .336  5 24 .317    1-2  9  .937
2005 .264 56-55 193 19 51  5  0  3  23 .337 12 30 .324   6-11  8  .964

Jordan Struble, senior, catcher/outfielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2005 .277 30-21  83 12 23  7  0  0  14 .361  9 14 .344    2-3  0 1.000

Tom Wolf, senior, outfielder. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR  AVG GP-GS  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI SLG% BB SO  OB% SB-ATT  E  FLD%
2003 .259 19-16  58 12 15  4  0  3   9 .483  7 12 .353    1-1  0 1.000
2004 .330 30-23 100 10 33  5  0  3  23 .470  4 18 .352    0-1  0 1.000
2005 .229 14-8   35  0  8  1  0  0   2 .257  1  3 .270    0-1  0 1.000

Pitchers:

Brett Andrade, senior, RH reliever. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2003 10.22 1-0  11  0  0  0 12.1 22 14 14  5  6  6  0  3  55  .400  2   0  0
2004  4.95 1-0  17  0  0  0 20.0 20 12 11  1 19  6  0  2  79  .253  1   1  0
2005  4.66 1-0  10  0  0  0  9.2 13  9  5  3  3  4  0  0  41  .317  0   3  1

Matt Fitts, sophomore, RH reliever. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2005  2.20 0-1  16  0  0  0 16.1 16  7  4  4 11  1  0  1  61  .262  0   0  0

Update: Matt Fitts has left the program.

Jared Hughes, junior, RH starter. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2005  2.83 8-3  15 14  2  0 89.0 67 29 28 23 87 10  4  3 316  .212  9  19  1

Donnie Hume, sophomore, LH starter and reliever. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2005  2.37 1-1  11  2  0  0 19.0 20  8  5  5 13  3  3  1  72  .278  0   1  0

Scott Juneau, senior, RH reliever. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2004  6.00 1-1   8  0  0  0 12.0 12  8  8  2  7  5  0  2  46  .261  0   1  0
2005  9.00 0-0   1  0  0  0  1.0  1  1  1  0  0  0  0  1   3  .333  0   0  0

Andrew Liebel, sophomore, RH reliever. Dirtbags stats:

YEAR   ERA W-L APP GS CG SV   IP  H  R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR  AB B/Avg WP HBP BK
2005  5.11 0-2  11  0  0  0 12.1 15  9  7  6  4  4  1  0  51  .294  1   2  1

Josh Tamba, redshirt sophomore, RHP. Josh redshirted 2004, and did not pitch in 2005.